in THE RENASCENCE OF SCIENCE 107 



the wood-pecker by these creatures protruding it to 

 get at food in channel or crevice ; for the webbed 

 feet of aquatic animals by the outstretching of the 

 membranes between the toes in swimming ; and for 

 the erect position of man by the constant efforts of 

 his ape-like ancestors to keep upright. The legless 

 condition of the serpent which, in the legend of the 

 Garden of Eden, is accounted for on moral grounds, 

 is thus explained by Lamarck : ' Snakes sprang from 

 reptiles with four extremities, but having taken up 

 the habit of moving along the earth and concealing 

 themselves among bushes, their bodies, owing to 

 repeated efforts to elongate themselves and to pass 

 through narrow spaces, have acquired a considerable 

 length out of all proportion to their width. Since 

 long feet would have been very useless, and short 

 feet would have been incapable of moving their 

 bodies, there resulted a cessation of use of these 

 parts, which has finally caused them to totally dis- 

 appear, although they were originally part of the 

 plan of organisation in these animals.' The dis- 

 covery of an efficient agent of modifications, which 

 Lamarck refers to the efforts of the creatures them- 

 selves, has placed his speculations in the museum of 

 biological curiosities ; but sharp controversy rages 

 to-day over the question raised in Lamarck's fourth 

 proposition, namely, the transmission of characters 

 acquired by the parent during its lifetime to the 

 offspring. This theory of transmission, long taken 

 for granted, has been challenged by Weismann, who 

 throws the onus probandi on his opponents. The 

 issue in his favour may be regarded as, in the main, 

 established. 



